Elastic-fluid turbine.



"R. N. EHRHART. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1905.

Patented Nov. 30 1909.

I the turbine is caused to pulsate.

accompanying this oil inlet and discharge ducts leading to its tially continuous flow of lubricating oil. till.

rarer anion.

RAYMOND N. EHRHART, or PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, assrcnoa 'ro ran wasrms- HOUSE MACHINE COMPANY, 11 CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINE.

Application tiled March 9, 1905.

Patented Nov. 30 19699. Serial No. 249,2?7..

runner chamber posed inlet 5 oil reservoir turbine shaft meshes with pump runner spindle 9. Any suitable forms of gears'n'iay be substituted for the Worm and worm-wheel if desired.

A bearing-oil conveying-pipe .10 connects with the discharge outlet of the centrifugal pump, and leads to the bearings of the turbine to be lubricated. An overflow pipe from the'bearings connectswith pipe 11 and leads the oil from the bearings back to the v reservoir or tank 6. The inlet orifice from forcing the oil through the bearings is utilthe oil-rcservoir to the pump chamber and ized for operating the steam, or other workthe clearances around the pump runner, are ting-fluid inlet valve to the turbine. roportioned so that, when the pump is A further object has been to provide simdriven at its normal speed, which will be pie means whereby the fluid inlet valve to during the normal speeds of the turbine, this will be subject to slight variations be tween certain predetermined limits. i

A fluid inlet or governing valve 12, having a piston or slide 13, provided with a stem 14, is located at some convenient point in-the fluid supply line adjacent to the turbins to be governed. Located axially in line with valve stem 14 and connected with the oil discharge line from the pump, by means 4,having a centrally disconnecting to the bottom of an or tank 0, is driven from the by means of a worm 7 which Be it known that I, RAYMOND N. EHR- HART, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to elastic fluid turbines.

It is now common with elastic fluid turbines to maintain a continuous flow of lubricating oil through the shaft bearings thereof, and an object of this invention has been to produce a device whereby the pump for To all whom it may concern: l

A still further object of this invention has been to produce a simple fluid operated device capable of being utilized for controllin the fluid inlet valves to various types of fiui pressure engines, the piston .or pistons of which either reciprocate or rotate.

These and other objects I attain by means of the device describedin the specifications and illustrated in the single sheet of drawing application and forming oil chamber, which may be formed in any suitable manner, is provided with a yielding diaphragm wall 1!, which, at its center, carries a contact piece 18 in line with the lower end of the valve stem, and which a part thereof. i

n the drawing, Figure l is a more or less I diagrammatic View 1n section of a device embodying this invention, and Fig. 2 is a de- J tail view of a portion of the same.

As the turbine or other type of engine with which this device may be used, in itself, forms no part of this invention, it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate the same, but without any. idea of restricting the in vention to use with elastic fiuidturbines it will be supposed for the sake of this application that the device as illustrated is used with an elastic fluid turbine having suitable contact therewith. The valve stem .isprovided with 'a spring retaining collar 19, and surrounding the stem and between said collar and an adjustable spring retaining member 20, a coil spring 21 is located.

,VVhen the turbine, and therefpre the pump, is at rest, the valve stem .14; will rest in contact with the contact piece. of the diaphragm,- and the length ofthe stem is such that when at rest the collar 19 will contact with a stop 29 surrounding the valve stem; the spring will then be under only slight y tension, the diaphragm forced to its lowest'position, and the fluid inlet valve' will then cut oii the fiuidsupply to the turbine.

shaft or other bearings through which it is I desired to maintain a continuous or substan- I A centrifugal or other form of rotary pump consisting of a runner 3 mounted in a during the operation of the device, rests in a worm-wheel 8 mounted on a i of a pipe 15, 1s an oil chamber 16. This I In order to admit the working fluid to theturbine for the purpose of starting, a pivoted latch 22 is provided, and by means of said latch, which when in its raised position is adapted to contact with a pin on the valve stem, the valve stem'may be manually raised until the valve is in an open position and there maintained by means of said latch and pin. In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the valve is shown in start-- ing position with its stem resting out of contact with the diaphragm and there held by means ofthe latch.

In order to allow the chamber 16 to be filled with oil and the airtherein to escape during the oil-filling process, I have provided a pipe 24, supplied with a valve 25, connecting the chamber 16 and the supply tank 6. During the operation or" filling the chamber 16, the valve 25 is opened, allowing the air to escape and after the chamher is filled the valve may be shut otf or turned to allow a restricted flow of .oil from the chamber 16 to the supply tank.

The arrangement of the pipe is such that the discharge of oil will be from the top portion of the chamber 16 directly under the diaphragm 17 which permits the discharge of any air that may collect in the chamber 16. The flow through the pipe .21 may be restricted to such an extent that the pressure pumped by the centrifugal pump 3 willbe practically unaffected. In order to cause the valve to pulsate and to overcome the static friction and tendency to stick, during the time it stands in its ditlerent positions and when moving from one position to another, the pump runner chamber is provided with an outlet 26, and pump spindle 9 carries a plateQT, having a cut-away portion 28 which, during each revolution of the pump, is adapted to uncover "port 26 and allow the pump to discharge back into the reservoir 6. It will be seen thatby this method the pressure in the oil chamber 10, over and above the pressure maintained at all times in the oil supply line to the bearings, will drop, and the valve stem, by means of the spring, Wlll move downwardly and carry With it the valve piston. As these drops in pressure, due to the opening of the port as, will only be of short dur tion, and as the pump will be driven at a relatively high rate of s )eed,'it will be seen that the inlet valve will be caused to pulsate.

As soon as the pressure in chamber 16 is sufficient to raise the valve stem and the pin 23, carried thereby, out of contactwith the latch22', the latch will drop by gravity and the position of the inlet valve and therefore, the effective area therethrough, will be automatically controlled by the pressure produced by the pump'.

The pressure produced by the centrifugal pump will vary as the square of the speed of the turbine shaft, so that as the speed of the shaft increases the pressure on the diaphragm will increase as the square of that speed, except for the drops in pressure occasioned by uncovering the outlet :36 to the pump chamber, and it will be seen by means of the device illustrated the speed of the turbine can be easily and readily regulated.

In case of accident to the centrifugal pump or in case the oil supply becomes low or is exhausted, the spring will force the valve stem to its lowest position, and on account of the arrangement of the inlet valve, the steam or other fluid supply to the turbine will be completely shut olf.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with an apparatus which represents an em bodiment thereof. I desire to have it; understood that the apparatus only illust '2 tive and that the invention can be carried out by other means. The invention is not limited to a centrifugal pump, as any pump driven by the engine or apparatus to be govcrned may be utilized and various means may be employed for causing the variations or pulsations of effective pressure delivered by the pump.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a governing device, a pump, a. driving member in connection therewith, instrumentalitics actuated by said pump for-regulating the speed of said driving member, and means for periodically varying the cti'ectivc cti'ort of said pump whereby said inslrumentalities are caused to pulsate in performing their functions.

2. In a governing device, a pump, a driving member connected therewith, a hydraulic system subsidiary to said pump and opcatcd thereby, instriuneutalitics auxiliary to said hydra ulie syslcn'i for regulating the speed of said driving member, and means for varying the cll'cct ive ctl'ort of said pump and thereby causing variations of pressure in said hydraulic system and a consequent pulsating of said instrumentalities.

In a governing device, a driving member, a pump connected therewith, a hy draulic pressure chamber auxiliary to said pump, a diaphragm in conjunction with said chamber and instrumentalitics in contact therewith and actuated thereby for regulating the speed of the said driving member, and means dependent on the pump for causing regular variations in pressure in the said chambetand a consequent pulsating or vibrating offthe said diaph agar in performing its functions. v

4. In a governing device, a driving mere her, a pump connected draulic pressure chamber auxiliary to said pump, a diaphragm in conjunction with said, chamber, instrumentalities in contact therewith and actuated thereby for regulat said driving member, and. means for varying the efl'ective-eii'ort of said mg the speed of pump and thereby causing periodic variations of pressure within said chamber and a consequent pulsating of said diaphragm in performing its functions. A

5. In an elastic fluid turbine, a governing device comprisinga su ply passage for said turbine, avalve in said supply passage for controlling the flow of.mot1ve fluid therethrough, a controlling device for said valve compr sing a centrifugal pump means actuated by said pump for operating said valve to vary the supply of motive fluid to the turbine in accordance with the speed of the turbine, and means for varying the effective effort of said pump whereby the said valve is caused to pulsate.

6. In an elastic fluid turbine, a governing device com rising a su ply passage communicating with said tur inc, a valve in said passage, a centrifu al pump driven by said turbine, a hydrau ic system subsidiary to said pump and operated thereby, means Within said hydraulic system for actuatin said valve to vary the supply of motive fluid to said turbine in accordance with the speed of the turbine, and means subsidiary to said pump for periodically varying the pressure within said system. I

7. In an elastic fluid-turbine, a governing device comprising a fluid supply passage communicating with said turbine, a valve in said passage, a centrifugal pump driven by said turbine, a hydraulic ressure chamber auxiliary to said pump, a iaphragm in corn nection with said chamber, in contact therewith and operated thereby for actuating said valve to vary the supply of motive fluid to said turbine in accordance with the speed of the turbine, and means subsidiary to said .pump for periodically varying the pressure within said chamber.

8. In combination With the fluid admission valve of an elastic fluid turbine, a pump driven by said turbine, a hydraulic pressure chamber auxiliary to said pump, a diaphragm in connection with said chamber, mstrumentalities in contact therewith and actuated thereby for controllin the operation of said valve, and a cut-oplate operating in conjunction with said pump for causing eriodic variations of pressure within said chamber and a consequent pulsating of said valve.

S). In combination with a member to be governed, a spe d-governing device comprising a pump driven by said member, instrumentalities actuated by said pump for regu instrumentalities operated thereby,

to said pump,

therewith, a by 7 lating the speed of said member and a periodically opening by-passfor varying the efl'ective effort of said pump.

10. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a fluid-supply passage delivering motive fluid to said turbine, a valve controlling the delivery of fluid through said passage, a pump actuated and driven by said turbine and actuating said valve and a periodically opening by-pass for varying the effective effort of said pump and thereby causingsaid valve to pulsate the fluid delivered to said turbine.

11. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a fluidsupply passage for the tur bine, a valve controlling the'delivery of fluid through said assage, a pump driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the turbine, an agent,subsidiary to said pump, for actuating said valve and means for periodically varying the eflective effort of said pump whereby said valve is caused to pulsate the fluid delivered to said turbine.

12. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a fluid-supply passage delivering motive fluid to said turbine, a valve controlling the delivery of fluid through said pas-- sage, a pump-driven by said turbine, a hydraulic system subsidiary to said pump and a pressure chamber located within said system, means, responsive to variations of pressure within said chamber, for actuating said valve and a periodicallyopening by-pass for varying the efl'ective efl'ort of said pump whereby said means is caused, to pulsate said valve.

13. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a fluid-supply passage delivering motive fluid to 'said turbine, a pump driven by said turbine, a pressure chamber auxiliary a diaphragm within said chamber and sensitive to variations of pressure delivered by said pump, avalve actuated by said diaphragm'and controlling the delivery of- 'notive fluid through said passa e and means for varying the effective efl irt of said pump whereby said valve is caused to pulsate the fluid delivered to said turbine.

14. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a fluid-supply passage delivering motive fluid to said turbine, a pump driven by said turbine, a pressure chamber auxiliary to said pump, a diaphragm within said chamber and sensitive to variations of pressure delivered by said pump, a valve actuated by said diaphragm and controllin the delivery of motive fluid through sai passage and a periodically opening by-pass for said pump or varying the effective effort of the pum and thereby causing the valve to pulsate t 1e fluid delivered to said turbine.

15. In combination with an elastic fluid turbine, a fluid-supply passage delivering motive fluid to said turbine, a valve con- In testimony whereof, I haye hereunto trolling tliedelivery of fluld i0 said passage, subscribed my name this sixth day of March, a pump driven by the turbine a pressure 1905.

chamber receiving fluid from said pump and RAYMOND N. EHRI-IART. 5 means, sensitive to the pressure within said \Vitnesses:

chamber for actuating said valve and for DAVID \Vnaaams,

pulsating the fluid delivered to said turbine. E. \V. McCALLes'rnu. 

